Writing instrument holder



Sept 19, 1933 J. w. FlTz GERALD 1,927,164

4WRlllING INSTRUMENT HOLDER Filed July l5, 1931 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 19, 1933 Unirse STATES WRITING INSTRUMENT HOLDER John W. Fitz Gerald,'Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application July 15, 1931.` Serial No. 550,865

6 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in writing instrument holders, and refers more particularly to holders for pens and pencils, and known in the art as pen desk sets.

In conventional desk sets heretofore in use, the receptacle for the pen or other writing instrument was usually supported from a base by a ball and socket connection, the sphere or ball member being attached to the receptacle. Substantially universal movement of the receptacle with respect to the base was thus obtained, but practically the entire spherical surface of the ball, including those portions exposed to View, were subjected to wear during the various movements of the receptacle.

In view of this condition, it was impractical to plate the ball member, for the plating soon wore off and resulted in an unsightly appearance. It was, therefore, necessary to make the ball member of solid metal and as gold or similar metal was usually used, the increased cost entailed thereby was appreciable.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel mounting for the ball member whereby the wear on the ball member takes place only at concealed portions, and thus makes plating feasable.

Another object of this invention is to simplify the design and reduce the number of parts comprising the mounting for the receptacle.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devisedfor the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary view of a pen desk set embodyingr this invention, with parts in section and parts in elevation;

Figure 2 is a cross section view taken through Fig. 1 on the plane of the line 2 2; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the elements of the receptacle mounting shown separated and in their proper order of assembly.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 represents the base of a pen desk set having a bore 6 whose lower end communicates with an enlarged recess or pocket 'fi'formed in the bottom of the base. The upper end of the bore is ared outwardly or taperingly enlarged, as at 8.

(Cl. 1Z0-108) Inserted into the bore 6 is the stem portion 9 of a mounting structure 10 by which a writing instrument receptacle 11 is swivelly mounted from the base 5. The receptacle 11, as is customary in articles of this type, has a bore, not shown, opening to its outer end into which the pen or other writing instrument is inserted.

The mounting structure 10 comprises a disc l2 fixed to the inner end of the receptacle 11, as at 13, and two substantially hemi-spherical members 14 having downward extensions 15 which together form the stem 9. The inner faces of the members 14 have cylindrical recesses or pockets 16 which are adapted to receive correspondingly shapedand sized lugs or projections 17 formed on the opposite faces of the disc 12 so that when the hemi-spherical members 14 are assembled with the disc 12, the disc 12 and consequently the receptacle 1l carried thereby, is mounted for pivotal movement about the transverse axis of the members 14.

The disc 12 is of such thickness that when assembled with the members 14, a perfect sphere is formed and when the extensions 15 formingthe stem 9 are inserted into the bore 6 of the base, the sphere afforded by the assembled members 14 and the disc 12, engages the outer portion of the taperingly enlarged outer end 8 of the bore 6 to mount the sphere for rotation about the axis of the bore 6.

It is observed that the innermost ends of the extensions 15, which form the stem, are provided with flanges 18. These flanges engage behind the edges of an opening 19 formed in a bowed leaf spring 20, the ends of which 'engage the bottom of the recess 7 to yieldably `draw the stem 9 and consequently the entire mounting structure down into the bore so `as to maintain the same assembled with the base.

To assemble the extensions 15 with the spring 20, it is only necessary to force the middle portion of the spring 20 upwardly and engage the inner ends of the extensions 15 in its opening 19 and then position the disc 12 between the members le.

As hereinbefore noted, the disc 12 mounts the receptacle 11 for pivotalA movement about the transverse axis of the sphere, and inasmuch as the entire mounting structure 10 is rotatable about the axis of the bore 6, the receptacle 11 has substantially a universal movement with respect to the base. The members 14 and the disc 12 may be plated to enhance the appearance 'of the vrievice, and inasmuch as the members 14 are mounted only for turning movement about a xed axis, and inasmuch as these members engage only the outer end of the tapered bore 8, any possible wear on the plating of these members takes placel at concealed portions, and to preclude rubbing of the plating from the peripheral edge o f the disc 12, the disc 12 is slightly smaller in diameter than ico the sphere so that the peripheral edge of the disc never cornes in contact with the tapered bore 8.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains that this invention provides an extremely simple and ei'licient manner of mounting the receptacle of a pen desk set from its base whereby substantially universal movement is accommodated, that the mounting structure is composed oi' a minimum number of parts, and that any possible Wear on the mounting structure takes place at concealed portions, so that it is ieasable to plate the elements thereof and eiect a reduction in the cost of manufacture.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a wri .C instrument holder oi the character described, a base having a bore, and a Writing instrument receptacle, means for mounting the receptacle from the base for substantially universal movement comprising a disc carried by the receptacle, pair of sul.- stantially hemispherical bers disposed one on side of the disc and together with the disc forming substantially a sphere, means on said disc for pivotally connecting said mem ers with said disc, said sphere being of a diameter greater than the diameter oi the bore in the base and seated on the outer peripheral edge of said bore, and spring means engaging diainetri cally extending Toot portions ci hemispherical members for holding the sphere in its position resting on the outer peripheral` edge of the bore While permitting rotation oi the sphere about the axis of the bore, the diameter of the disc being less than the diameter of the sphere whereby' the peripheral edge surface of the disc is precluded from contacting with the cuter peripheral edge oi' the bore.

2. In a writing instrument holder of the character described, including a base having a bore and a Writing t instrument receptacle, means mounting the receptacle for substantially uni-,- versal movement with respect to the base and comprising a disc connected with the receptacle, a pair of substantially hemispherical members one on each side oi the disc and together with the disc 'forming substantially a sphere oi a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore and seated on the outer peripheral edge portion of the bore, a pivotal connection between the hemispherical members and the disc enabling pivotal movement of the receptacle about an axis angular to the axis of the bore, extensions on the hemispherical members extended into the bore, and spring means connected with said projections and engaging va portion oi-the base to hold the sphere in its position seated on the peripheral edge portion of the bore While enabling rotation of the sphere about the axis of the bore. p

3. In a Writing instrument holder of the character described, including a base having a bore, and a Writing instrument receptacle, Ymeans mounting the receptacle for substantially universal movements/'ith respectto the base and comprising a disc connected With the receptacle, a pair of substantially hemispherical members one on each side of the disc and together with the disc forming substantially a sphere of a di- Vspherical members and the disc enabling pivotal movement oi the receptacle about an axis angular to the axis of the bore, extensions on the hemispherical members extended into the bore, a flat spring member having an aperture in which the end portions of the extensions are received, abutments on the extremities oi' said extensions engagedbehind the edge or" the aperture in the Iflat spring to readily detachably connect said extensions vwith the spring and said ilat spring engaging part oi the base to urge the extensions and consequently the sphere-into the bore Whereby the sphere is retained in its seated position and rotation thereof about axis ot the bore is permitted.

4. In a device of the character described, a base having a cylindrical bore and a flared portion in the upper end oi said bore, a Writing instrument receptacle and means to mount said receptacle on said base comprising a disc carried by said receptacle having a cylindrical projection extending irom each face thereoi, a pair of separated substantially hemispherical members having circular recesses therein to receive the cylindrical projections from said disc member to form a pivot about which. said receptacle may rotate,

said hemispherical members cooperating with i. said disc member to form substantially a sphere,`

spring means cooperating with said iiared portion to maintain said hemispherical members assembled with said disc member and said sphere in its 'flared seat.

5. In a Writing instrument holder of the character described including a base having a bore and a writing instrument receptacle, means for mounting the receptacle from the base comprising a disc connected with thereceptacle, a pair of partially spherical members at opposite sides of the disc, means to pivo'tally connect said partially spherical members with the disc so as to enable relative movement oi the instrument holder With respect to the partially spherical members, extensions on the partially spherical members extending into the bore With the spherical surfaces of said r' embers resting on the outer peripheralportion of the bore, and means to draw said extensions down into the bore to retain the same assembled with the base and to clamp the disc between the partially spherical members.

' 6. In a device of the character described, a base having a bore provided with a flared outer end, a Writing instrument r cepta'cle, means for mounting Ythe receptacle from the base for substantaily universal movement comprising, a disc carried by the receptacle, a pair of substantially hemispherical me" ers disposed one on each side of the disc to form with the disc substantially a sphere, means to form a pivotal connection be-' tween the disc andsaid substantially hemispherical members, an extension on each oi said hemispherical me; eers received in bore, and resilient means to draw the to retain the spherical sur" oi the hemispherin cal members in engfrericnt i. .tn the flared end of the bore and the eby force the hemis herical members into contact with the opposite si es of the disc.

JOHN W. FITZ GERALD.

ons into the bore 

